Safety cordage



March 2, 1937. s. P. F. SNEED SAFETY. CORDAGE Filed Dec. .27, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FILE? I N V EN TOR. ,SfgohenBEM,

ATTORNEY! March 2, 1937. 's. P. F. SNEED .SAFETY ICORDAGE' Filed Dec. '27,, 1933 3 Sheets-Shem 2 II-VVENTOR: Snead,

A TTORNEY! Mmh 2, 1937. s. P. F. SNEEb 2,072,387

SAFETY CORDAGE Filed Dec. 27., 1933 3*Sheeos-Sheet 5 I F1 EJQE- Fla--15- Fifi--11.-

//'n FIE--15- IVENTOR.

v ATTORNEY;

Patented i937 f uNiren s TEs PATENT or ies v c c c si 32mm I Stephen r. r. Sneed, Atlanta. Ga. 1 Application December'27, 1933, SerlabNo. 704,190

15 Claims; (cl. 915-26).

' The present invention relates .to improvements in cordage, and more particularly to) improved safety cordage andto improved methods of making the same. i

Cordage, made inaccordance with the present. invention, may be used for numerous purposes and the size of the cordage may be varied at will, depending, of c use to which it isto'be directed.\

10 "Large quantities of cord are used' for stringing beads, jewels and other ornaments commonly.

worn the form 01" necklaces. Because of the fact that these ornaments are usually made .oi' q hard abrasive substancesand also because they '15 often possess sharp edges. .the .bead cord is sub-,

jlected to severe weartrom the constant rubbing of the ornaments thereon and from the possible, cutting ot the cordby the shaip edges of the amasmenw. Such wear often causesthe breaking of the cord and, as a result of such breaking, the ornamentsfall from the cord andscatter. Thepossible loss oi'yaluable ornaments from the breaking of the cord is a peril to? be .guarded against.

Often, in high quality necklaces, thecord is 25 knotted between the beads to prevent theloss of morejthan one head if the cord'should break.

' "This is, however, an expensive method and furthermore, in matched necklaces, it is an exceed-I .ingly diflicult matter to replace even one lost bead 30 because of the difliculty in finding a head of the exact 'size and quality which may be necessary. j The present invention aims to provide a safety bead cord wherein the complete breaking ,or parting of the cord is effectively prevented whereby to 35 obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages. Likewise, in well; drilling, other subterranean operations and also in subaqueous operations,-

such aslaying=cables and the like, heavytools or other devices are often suspended by ropes 40 or'cables and upon the complete breaking or partingof the connections, delay and expense are involved in. recovering the suspended devices and in completing the work. Amea'ns of maintaining a connection, at' all times, between the- 45 parted ends of the cable would permit the guiding of gripping tools accurately and quickly to the lower section of the cable to recover the various devices. .Similarly, in marine towing and lifeine operations, it is'of the utmost importance 50 to maintain the connection between ships and uponthe breaking of the connecting line, loss of life and great damage often result. A provision for maintaining a connection between the parts of. a line that has parted would permit the rapid b5 drawing intoplace of another line. Also, in conqurse, upon .the particular.

- inner core will automatically streng en any weak parts therein as it plays out upon the breakceedinglyda'ngerous to any one who may be in the vicinity.- Also, in' building construction,.'where 5 heavy connectors; are. used, it is of importance to prevent the complete parting oi. the: rope or. cable connections. The present invention aims to provide a connecting line or cable which is so constructed that the above mentioned difliculties will be obviated. 2

It is, of cours'e,o bvious that connecting means made in accordance with the present invention may be used for various other purposes and it. is to be clearly understood that cordage, within the meaning of wpresent invention, includes a wide range of 0 meeting means and that the' mere size of the cordage is not an' essential part" of the invention. The principal object-of the present invention is to provide an improved connecting line wherein 1 an outer casing or covering is subjected to the' normal loads-oi use and wherein an extensible core is enclosed'within -the outer covering, the extensible core being normally inactive and inert 1 but being adapted; to, maintain a-connection upon an improved connecting line consisting of an outer covering or casing which-is substantially non-. extensible-and an inner core whichis normally,

- free from tensile'loads but which isadapted to play out and assume a portion ofthe tensile loads I only upon the breaking of the outer covering or I casing. 1

A still further object of the'inventlon is to providean improved safety cord; of thevtype referred to, wherein an outer covering subject to -abrasion and tensile loads has enclosed therein an inner safety core which. is of greater length 40 than the covering but which is inserted completely and retained within said covering whereby, upon the breaking of the outer covering, the inner core will be vfree to play out and thus indicate that the coveringhas parted out and, at the same time, prevent the complete breaking of the entire cord. .The invention still further aims to provide im- I proved safety cordage,-of the type'referred to, wherein the inner core may be made or inserted in a manner which will cause it to play out with a series of jerks to thus give a distinct warning signal of the breakage of the casingawh erein the of beads strung on a cord made in accordance ing of the casing; wherein the inner core is prevented from kinking; and wherein the inner core does not resist the bending or fiexure of the outer casing. f v 5 The invention still further aims to provide improved methods of making safety cordage, of the type herein referred to, whereby the cost of manufacture will remain at a minimum. I

These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In'the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal view, partlyln section, showing the construction of acord made in accordance with the present invention. I

.Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cord shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the cord shown in Fig. 1, with a portion of the outer casing broken away to show the helical. inner extensible strand.

Fig. 3a is a longitudinal view, in section, showing a modification of the manner in which thethe cord shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. dis a detailed view of the extensible core strand of the cord shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6a is a detailed view, in perspective, show- ,ing a further modifiediform of inner'core.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a necklace or choker with the present invention.

I Fig. 8 is a view showing the action of the safety cord on ruptureof the outer casing and the extensible nature of the inner core.

Fig. 9 is a'view showing a clasp and the mann in which the ends of the safety cord are tied thereto.

. Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view or a braiding machine adapted to carry out. one method of making the safety cord. v

Fig. 11 is a-detailed elevation showing the reel which feeds the inner core strand and shows a" method of forming and inserting'a helical core intotheouter coveringbrycasing at the braiding Fig. 12 is a plan view, taken along the-line- Fig. 13 is an enlarged view, taken along line forming plate employed at the braidihgpoint.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the take-oft pressure rolls employed in the machine shownin Fig. '10. I

Fig. 16 is a view of the take-oif' pressure rolls and the supporting structure therefor, taken substantially alongline li-Ii of Fig. 10.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in section, show-J inganother method of forming and inserting the corewithin the outer covering or casing.

" 18 shows a difierent form of feeding struc-.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings and particularly at this time to Figs.

1 l0 3 3a, 3b, 7;, hand 9, there is shown, for pur poses of illustration, a bead cord which i nsists of an outer covering or casing I1 and an inner core strand I8 enclosed within the casing. The

outer casing I1 is formed of interwoven or braided textile yarns or.strands of silk or other suitable material and the beads orjewels B are'strung.

thereon so that it is subject to abrasion and rupture in the manner hereinbefore pointed out. The inner core or strand I8 is formed" of any suitable flexible material, such as silk, linen or the like,-

and is preferably inserted within the casing H in the form of a helix I8a., although this is not essential." As shown in Fig. 3a, the core strand I8 may be inserted within the casing I! in the form of Z-shaped tucks I812. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 3b, the core strand may be inserted within the casing in the form of loops I8c. Thus, it is apparent that the inner core strand I 8 serves as a safety device which will prevent the entire cord from parting even upon the rupture of the outer casing II, in which event, the inner-core strand I8 will play out and elongate but-will prevent the beads from scattering. The beads B are shown strung on the cord in the form of a. necklace'in Fig. 7-and the resulting sag in the necklace after the casing I I has broken is illustrated in Fig. 8. The ends of the cord are tied to the eyelets 20, '22 of the clasp I8 so that both the casing I1 and the inner corestrand I8 are anchored thereto. The sag in the necklace after the casing I! has broken serves as a convenient way of indicating the breakage to the wearer.

In Figs. 4 to 6 and 611, there are shown certain modified forms of the inner core for the purpose oi giving an idea as to the manyv ways in which the inner core'm'ay be formed; -In Figs. 4 to 6, a helical core 58 isinserted within the casing IT. This core,itself, includes a central core strand 59 of rubber or the like; A thread 60 is wound about the rubber core in one direction and an additional thread 6I is wound about; the first thread in a reverse-direction whereby to aid in preventing kinking of the core 58 as it plays out upon rupture of the casing 11. -In Fig. 6a, the core strand I8 is inserted in the casing I! in the form of a helix Ila, but there is provided a central inner strand 62 which is disposed within the helix I8a. This central strand 'is provided with a series of weakened portions 53 at predetermined intervals. Thus when the outer casing I1 breaks, the elongation or playing out of the core strand I8 will be resisted to a certain extent by the inner strand 62.

This inner strand .will break, however, at the weakened points 83 so that, as the core strand I8 plays out, it will do so with a series of jerks, thus giving a vibrating signal that the casing has parted. I

A similar series of jerks may be noticed when:

core strands, as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, play out.

There is a free play out during part of the elongation of the core, but as that part of the strand which is frictionally held against the inner face of the casing 'is pulled out, there is a distinct re- 1 tardation of the free play out and so a series of jerks result to give a warning signal. The loops of the core element may be placed or folded in the central area of the. outer-casinggin any arrangement which condenses or shortens the core strand that it will play out when ,other elements of the completed cord break. The manner in which by forcing it to expand and shorten or condense as helical core strand should becomewea'keried,

gredient thereto, either throughout its length or at certain intervals. 7

during the playing out of the inner core'element maybe obtained by applying a cementitious ine The, inner core element is not subject to abrasion, because the outer casing is usually broken before there is a chance for the iniier strandto become worn. The inner core strand is preferably made in the form of'helical coils, as shown in Fig.3, so that any radial pressure, which tends helical core to retract into the central area away from such pressure. Hemp rope is manufactured from fibers which are first spun into a. yarn, be-- ing twisted in a direction called"right handed. Yarns are then twisted into a strand in the opposite direction left handed. Three or more of these strands are then twisted into a rope in the direction right handed. The several con-g. trary strains .tending'to unt t the rope, the

strands and the yarns, appro ately balance I fore if an abrasive wears into a rope to the extent of, approximately one third of its thickness, from one side only, over ,'.a length of one pitch distance, or more, it will'have worn half.

way throughpvery strand.- All the yarns,-and

therefore all the strands, will be cut through and the rope will part. Such an abrasion would not reach the extensible safety core. {The socalled strand pitch distance of a threestrand rope is only a length of approximately three times the diameter of the rope. Similar conditions apply to braided cordage. If, however,- the therplaying out of the helical core will convert the loops thereof into twists whichnaturally run to the weakest point in the line so that the weak ened porion is thus automatically strengthened as the core strand plays out undertensile strain. A tucked or looped inner core is-likewise loosely packed in the casing so that the core tends to retract or move with an'abraiding surface.

sired to'prevent kinking of a helical coil of fibrous material it is' only necessary to laythe loops of the helix in a direction-opposite to the twist of the strand, .whereas' in wire cores, it v is only necessary. to" give the wire a partial twist in a sense opposite to thecoil as it is being formed. In marine work, it isoften desirable to-properly locate an object, and for this purpose the inner core strand fmay be made of a material capable of floating and made'up with a. series of V contrasting colors so that should-the inner strand break, the proper location may beireadily ascertained. Similarly, in any-case wheie it is de sirable to inspect the cordage, the core may be colored so that a person may readily ascertain the particular type pf cordage or the core may be examined 'to determine whether it has been propjerly positioned within the casing.

the casing is braided.

scribed. A braiding machinels illustrateddlae grammatically in Fig. '10 and in this niachine thebraiding yams [1a, "b, from which.-theouter casing I1 is formed; arefed from bobbins 23, 23a, the movements ofwhich are controlled by carcles' to interbraid the various yarns I1a, "l1b at to -'wear away the casing, will cause-the inner the braiding point i1 whichis determined by a forming plate 28 through which the formedcasbe. of any suitable type, such as that disclosed in the patent to Max Krissiep, 116:1,661974; issued May 1,1928. For "the sake ofrsimplicity, only two braiding carriers-and only two yarns of the casing I! 'are shown, but it will be understood that any number of carriers and'yarns may be employed, the exact number of which is determined by the size and kind The power'isapplied to theimachlne'in' any desired manner, as through a train of intermeshing gears 29,2911, etc. Thefcompleted cord 7 is drawn from the braiding point 21 over a pulley 32; which is can'led bya plate 33 adjustably mounted by a screw 33a'to the machide frame,

by a series of pressure rolls 30, 30a, 301), which are mounted in the upright side frames 54,, and

At one end of the-shaft 35, there'is apulley 35a which is connected bya belt 55 to a pulleyMla.

ing I 1 passes, The braiding carriers 24 24wmay of yarn from which on the shaft 40 whereby thelatter shaft is" driven. :There is a worm gear 3B on the shaft and this worm gear is adapted to, drive a train of gears 3'! for the purpose of rotating a pinion gear 38 on the shaft 52 .of the upper;

"pressure roller 30 whereby to rotate the take-off rolls 30, 39a, 30b.

- In order t0 f0l'1il the helical coil 118w and to.

bracket member M having upstan g arms V lla, Mb, the arms Mb being'provlded for the passage of strand E3. The reel is slidable on shaft 40 and is resiliently mounted on a spring 3! which rests upon the bracket M. The spring3l permits a limited longitudinal movement of the reel during thereeling oif operation whereby to relieve strain and prevent jerks on the strand H8. The; coil ma is formed by the strand l8 ona conical surface 43 of av fixed rod 1 theyelets t2 M which extends within the hollow shaft Ml and which is secured against rotation by a bracket $5. The formation of the coil 18m iscaused by the rotation of the shaft and bracket 4| about the fixed rod 44. 'The'strand I8 is thus reeled off through the eyelets 42. Thus, it will be seen 'face 43, a helical coil l8w is formed. The extend- T I ed apex 53a (Figs. 13 and 18) of the conical sur-.

face 43 'is' positioned the opening 28a of the forming plate 2,8 so that the tip thereof Fig. 18, the conical surface 43 may be made separegulate the feeding ofthe wire.

rately-and free to revolve on a projecting part 43b of the rod 44, the apex 43a being still held, stationary. In the case, however, of feeding a wire coil, the apex 43a. may be rotated by the machine and equipped with a grooved surface to The take-off rolls 30, 30a, 30b maintain a firm hold on the completed cord and thereby keep the braiding point 27 at the proper place soas to insure the proper insertion of the inner core.

In order to adjust the pressure exerted on the completed cord by the take-off rolls 30, 30a, 30b, there are provided, as shown in Fig. 16, adjusting screws 46 for positioning the plate 41 relative to a base plate 48. The plate carries a U- shaped bracket 49 whichbears against the shaft of the roll 30b and which is slidable insthe slots 53 in the supporting members 54. f The pressure thus applied to the roll 30b is transr'nitted by surface contact to the other rolls 30a and 30.

In order to prevent overrunning of the reel 39, there is provided a circumferential groove 39a at the bottom of the reel, which groove is adapted to receive two elastic members 56 which arosecured to the arms '4la, 4lb of the bracket 4| and terfsioned so as to permit rotation 'of the reel'when the strand [8 is being fed therefrom but which will maintain sufiicient tension on the reel to prevent the overrunning thereof as the strand is wound upon the conical surface 43 by rotation of the bracket 4|. This device may be a made to feed two or more helics at the same time in parallel relationship.

Another method of feeding the core to the casing is shown in Fig. 17. In this device, the mechanism for forming the inner core may be removed and entirely separate from the. braiding point.

' The yarns Ila, llb may be formed into the braided casing I! over the nozzle 51a of a conical skirted member 51. The nozzle 51a projects into the completed casing IT. The helical coil l8a, made according to Fig.-11, or any other form of inner core may be preformed and fed to the nozzle 51a by cooperating belt conveyors, or an equivalent- The nozzle protects the coil from being device. squeezed at the braiding point and also causes the completed casing to narrow gradually to grip the inner core. The member, 51 andlits nozzle 51a may be employed either with or without a. forming plate 28. Other forms of innercores may be readily fed to the' casing through the nozzle 510., shown in Fig. 17. As for instance, a tucked core (Fig; 3a) may be fed-to the casing I! either by'preforming the same or by employing'a reciprocating stuffer blade or tamper to form the tucks. It is, of course, obvious that numerous other forms may be similarly inserted drying it in form, treating a formed core with quick-drying cement, orforming a helical core are exceedingly resistant to pressure.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen over a cotton center; thread and inserting the entire core within the casing and then treating too, threads of short fibre lengths may be held together as a supporting center for the core by the use of suitable pastes or'cement which are soluble, or which, disintegrate upon contact with air. After the cord is formed and a solvent applied, the fine short fibers remain separated in the cord and will not interfere with playing out of the extensible core thread. In case a core is employed that is rigid and not subject to. being crushed out of form by tension of the yarns, then the structure shown in Fig. 1'7 may be dispensed with. I

The great flexibility of twisted rope is based on the following detail of construction. When rope is bent on'a curve of short radius the elesiderably, and those along the outer edge are extended, for the reason that each strand connects from a point of compression to a point of extension in one half turn around the rope, and the strands are free to slip or chafe.

freely with these conditions in rope, the wire is formed into a helical coil with the adjacent loops slightly separated to permit freedom of compression. The ridges of the twisted yarns of a fiber rope, or the wires, of a wire rope run practically parallel to the axis of the rope on the outer surface; at the 'center of the rope, however, they run transversely in substantially the. form and 'ments along the inner edge are shortened con- 2 In order- 30 to provide extensible wire cares that will flex angle of right handed thread grooves inside, a

thread cutting die. The loops of a right handed helical coil as describedmay be arranged to fit into these thread like crevices much as bolt threads fit into those of a nut. Thus the asassembly is subject. It is desirable for metallic or wire extensible cores in cordage to be resistant to change of form sembly is retained firmly-in place throughout the several expansions and contractions'to which the under lateral pressure, when the cordage is '50 wound on hoist drums and the like under strain. 'This is accomplished as -follows: The wire is formed into a helical coil of comparatively short radius. The resultant form, either solid or I spaced. issubstantially that of a small. metal ,55

cylinder, .or tube. Small thick walled metal tubes that a highly efficient safety bead .cord is here;

to such a cord inasmuch as rope, cable and other similar connecting lines may be made in accordance with the invention, that is, with a central core which isjadapted to play out or elongate with provided but that the invention is not limited 60 upon the rupture or parting of the outer covering, and thus preventfthe complete parting of theends of the connecting line. The invention further provides novel methods of making such connecting lines.

It is to be clearly understoodthat various 7ov changes in details of construction and in the methods of-making the connecting line may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims;

Having thus fully described the invention. what I Qaovaae? I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a connecting device-an outer casing subject to tension and abrasion, and an inner folded member which is normally inactive but" which is adapted to play out upon rupture of said casing whereby to prevent the complete parting] of the connecting device.

2. In safety bead cord, an outer covering consisting of a. plurality of interwoven strands, and an inner looped strand within said covering, said inner strand being adapted to play out upon 7 rupture of the covering whereby to prevent partingof the bead cord.

&

sisting of a plurality oi interwoven strands subject to abrasion," and a normally inert inner folded strand within said covering, said inner strand being adapted to play out upon rupture-- of said covering to prevent complete parting oi the bead cord. 4

' 4. The method of. making saiety cord which consists in forming an outer casing, iorming an inner core on a retaining strand, inserting the inner core and the retaining strand within the casingand finally disintegrating the retaining strandw o l 5. In a connecting device, an outer casing including a plurality of twisted strands which are subject to tension and abrasion, and a coiled nor-- .mally inactive core member within said casing, the coils of said coiled core member being adapted to fit between the strands on the inner surface of said casing, and said core member being adapted. to elongate upon rupture oi said casing whereby to prevent parting oi the connecting device.

6.. Ina connecting device, an outer casing sub ject to tension and abrasion, a coiled memberwithin said casing, a central strand within said coiled member, said coiled member being normal- 1y inactivebut adapted to play out upon the rupture of said casing whereby to prevent parting oi the connecting device, and said central strand being adapted to break as said coiled member 55 play out upon the rupture of theouter coveringwhereby'tocause-a. in the string oibeads to warn the-wearer and to prevent a complete part 'in'g oi. the bead cord.

- s. In safety beadcord i'or supportingbeta .im' to outer coveringconsistingo! a plurality of inter woven strands subject to tension and abrasion when the 'beads areicarrie'd thereby. and a normally inert innerstrand coiled in the' 'iorm of a helix, said inner strand-being tree from tension 05 when the beads aresupported by said outer coveering but being adapted to'play out upon the rupture oi! said outer covering wherebyto prevent the parting oi'the bead cord and the loss of the beads.

9.- In a.connecting device for assuming tensile loads, a main member which issubject to tension and adapted to assume the entire load when 3. In safety bead cord, an outer covering coninner strand of a length greater than that of the the device islo ed, and an auxiliary member which is entirely free from tension when the load is assumed-by the-{rnain member, said auxiliary. member being connected to said main member and being'i 'adap'ted play out upon the rupture 5 of said main member whereby to prevent commete-p t ng oi the connecting device.

10. In aconnecting] device for. tensile loads; an; outer casing which is subject to tension and adapted to assume the entire load when the device is'loaded. and an inner core member ;encldsed said outer casing. and entirely ireejirom tension 'when the load.

.. is by the outer casing, said core mem--' beluga! agre at xtended lengththansaid casing and having i ds connected to the ends critic casing and adapted to play out upon the rupture ofsaidcasing-jvhereby'to preventcom-- plete' parting oi the co" ecting device.

11. 1: a connecting Q eyite for assuming tensile leads, an outer, casing 'whith is subiectto tension and'adapted to assume theentire load when the r device is loaded, and-a coremembencondensed within said outer c and ,i'rictionally engaging the inner wall thereof and b i gentirely iree oi tension when the load-is assumed by said outer casing, said core member being'adapted to play out. upon the rupture of said outer casing to prevent. complete parting otthe connecting device,

the playing out oi said core member being retamed by the frictional engagement thereof with .the inner wall oi said outer casing. a .12. In a connecting device for assuming tensile leads, an outer casing which is subject to tension and adapted to assume the entire load when the device is loaded, and an inner coiled member disposed'within said outer casing and being entirely. tree from tension when the Jo'adisassumed by the outer casing, said coil member having the ends thereof connectedto the ends of said cas- 40 ing and being adapted to play out upon the runture oi-said ;outer casing whereby to prevent a complete parting oi device.

13. In' a connecting device according to claim 10, wherein the inner core member'is made-oi a buoyant material. v a

device for assuming tensile 14. ha connectin loads, an outer casing which is subiect to tension and adapted to assume the entire load when the device is 'loaded, an inner elastic core member which is entirely free from tension whenthe load .i'sassumed by said outer'casinmsaidcasing and said core'member having the ends thereof connected,and said core member being adapted to play out upon the rupture of said outer whereby to prevent complete of the con necting device.. I v

15. In a connecting device for assuming tensile loads, anouter casing which is subjecirtotension and adapted to assume the entire load when the device is loaded. and an inner core member "located and arranged within said outer casing in form and connected to said casing at splcedpoints, said core member being entirely free from tension between the said points when the load is assumed by the saldouter casing and being 'ee to extend and toassume'tensile' loads between said points when/the outer casing is ruptured between the said points whereby to prevent complete parting of the connect- 10 ing device. w 1

- STEPHEN P. F. 

